More communal gardens established through GUGMA Program, highlights urban and peri-urban agriculture

With the main goal of promoting gardening and ensuring consistent food accessibility for urban communities, the Partnership and Accreditation Section (PAS) of the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X) recently launched and initiated a series of Go Urban Gardening: Making FOOD Available (GUGMA) Program in key cities in Northern Mindanao.

Such initiative is in alignment with the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP), spearheaded by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. Through the introduction of urban and peri-urban agriculture, GUGMA sought to empower individuals and communities with the knowledge and resources needed to cultivate their own food in urban settings.

The GUGMA Program commenced its implementation in communal gardens, marking the start of a transformative journey from July to October. Leading the charge was Senior Agriculturist Javier P. Andalan, and his dedicated team along with Agriculturist II Cristine A. Galupo, Development Management Officer-I Jisa T. Dulay, and the equally competent Technical Support Staff comprised of Cherry M. Agbon and Joebert D. Apdian. They served as project officers and worked in close collaboration with the city agriculture offices of Region 10. This collective effort was aimed at driving sustainable urban agriculture across a network of targeted cities.

GUGMA Community Garden — The 200 square meter vegetable community garden established by the Tag-ilas Organic Vegetable Farmers produces vegetables such as eggplants, okra, tomato, bell peppers, pechay, and string beans which are grown naturally without the use of harmful chemicals.

The targeted cities for the implementation of the GUGMA Program this year included Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, Malaybalay City, El Salvador City, and Gingoog City. In each of these urban centers, GUGMA's mission was met with enthusiasm and strong support from local agriculturists, focal persons, and public officials. Their endorsement underscored the growing importance of urban and peri-urban agriculture in addressing food security challenges.

One of the program's most impactful components was the training provided to the 175 aspiring gardeners. This training covered essential techniques for successful gardening in an urban environment and the art of making fermented plant juices to enhance crop yields. Armed with such essential knowledge, these urban gardeners were better equipped to contribute to the sustainability of their communities.

GUGMA in El Salvador City — Members of the Tag-ilas Organic Vegetable Farmers in Hinigdaan, El Salvador City continue to cultivate their community garden and sell their produce at the El Salvador City Hall. Their community garden was one of the earliest gardens established through the GUGMA initiative in 2020.

Recognizing and rewarding active participation and engagement, the GUGMA Program acknowledged individuals who demonstrated a profound understanding of the ATI and the NUPAP Program. These enthusiastic learners were given pinakbet seeds and load cards, which not only served as incentives but also as a gesture of appreciation for their commitment to sustainable urban agriculture.

The culmination of this inspiring journey is set to be a series of graduation ceremonies, conducted separately in the last week of October until the second week of November, in each of the aforementioned cities. These events will mark the successful completion of the GUGMA Program and the beginning of a new era of urban gardening and food accessibility, paving the way for more sustainable and resilient urban communities. (written and submitted by: Joebert D. Apdian)